Charles Mully risked alienation from his biological children, who felt displaced in their own home and their father’s heart. He was banned from his local church for taking orphans to services....

“Every morning, You’ll hear me at it again. ” There’s nothing in this verse that says God is fed up and doesn’t want to hear from you again....

If you knew for certain you had only one year left to live, what one thing would you regret not doing before you ran out of days? If God has been impressing upon your heart to accomplish a certain thing, stop procrastinating and go about doing it. Such might be—forgiving someone, telling loved ones how much you love them, visiting a close relative you haven’t seen in a long time, or completing a project God has placed on your heart....

Where’s God in all my problems? Doesn’t He care that I’m suffering? Doesn’t He know that I can’t take any more of this? Is He even there? Has He lost control of this world? If you get discouraged and begin to think about such questions, ponder this. When Jesus was hanging on the cross—beaten, bloody, and barely resembling the appearance of a man—what do you suppose His disciples were thinking? Didn’t they all scatter? How do you suppose those who had followed Him felt? Don’t you imagine that they felt like He had failed and that God had lost control of the situation? The disciples didn’t understand that a resurrection was on the way....

…and watch for fire to descend. You just laid the pieces of your life on God’s altar but you weren’t really expecting fire....

Today’s phrase: …the pieces of my life… Sounds like a life that is shattered, a life in need of repair, a life in need of desperate intervention and divine help. Do you feel that way about your life, daily? Maybe not, but when you do feel that way, do you run to God with it? Psalm 46:1 (NIV) says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble....

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV)....

Has anyone ever asked you what fragrance you are wearing? In life, you are the fragrance of Christ and present the image of Christ through the leading of the Holy Spirit. You receive His knowledge through the Word, the Bible....

Swirling, pulling, dragging you down, the waves are churning all around. Fear and anxiety bind you as you’re dragged down in a whirlpool of worry....

When you were a kid, did you ever get homesick? Whether it was the first time we went to camp or spent the night at a friend’s house, we’ve all gone through it. Sooner or later we all need to go through the separation process to become healthy adults....